Designing and sharing APIs10% of the exam
API and Asset Version Compatibility
Classify API changes by their effect on existing consumers, then keep the contract version and Exchange asset release consistent. Review behavior, data, representations and access as well as schemas.
Identify changes to an API that would require or not require changing the major/minor/patch component of its semantic version.
~7 min read · 6 practice questions
What the exam expects
- Classify breaking changes, compatible additions and compatible corrections.
- Evaluate operation effects and response-value domains alongside data shapes.
- Distinguish an API version from an Exchange asset version.
- Recognize representation and permission changes that affect consumers.
- Preserve usable consumer documentation across an API's evolution.
Compatibility means an existing consumer can continue without adaptation; major, minor and patch identify release components; an API version identifies a contract line; an asset version identifies a published Exchange release.
Key facts
Major
- Detail
- Existing consumers must adapt to the incompatible contract.
Minor
- Detail
- Adds capability while preserving existing consumers.
Patch
- Detail
- Compatible bug fix or documentation update.
Operation effect
- Detail
- Changing it is a major service-contract change.
Response type
- Detail
- A changed type requires a major version.
Permissions
- Detail
- Restricting existing access requires a major change.
Version pairing
- Detail
- Compatible minor/patch specification releases retain the API version.
Shared presentation
- Detail
- Name, icon and description edits span all versions.
Documentation
- Detail
- Pages can differ by minor asset version.
Sources for this section (1)
- Why can changing an asset icon affect releases other than the one an editor is viewing?
- When editing consumer documentation for a particular minor asset version, which selector establishes the intended scope?
- Which semantic-version syntax feature is unavailable for Exchange asset releases?
The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.
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